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Lysosomes are intracellular acidic organelles with catabolic functions that contribute to the activation of autophagy. Although autophagy abnormality is associated with defects in lysosomal acidification during the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the mechanisms of control of lysosomal acidification are not well understood at the molecular level. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the role of the orphan nuclear receptor retinoic acid–related orphan receptor α (RORα) in lysosomal acidification and autophagic flux, particularly in nutrition‐enriched hepatocytes. First, lysosomal acidity was much lower in the hepatocytes obtained from hepatocyte‐specific RORα‐deleted (RORα‐LKO) mice, whereas the infusion of an adenovirus encoding RORα in wild‐type hepatocytes increased lysosomal acidity, as determined by LysoSensor. Second, the lysosomal translocation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin was increased and immature cathepsin D was accumulated in the liver of RORα‐LKO mice. Third, the accumulation of LC3‐II, p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), and neighbor of BRCA1 gene 1 (NBR1) was increased in the livers of RORα‐LKO mice, indicating an impaired autophagic flux in the livers. Consistently, the number of autolysosomes containing mitochondria and lipid droplets was dramatically reduced in the RORα‐deleted hepatocytes. Finally, we found that RORα induced the transcription of genes involved in lysosomal function, such as Atp6v1g1, a vacuolar H+‐ATPase (v‐ATPase) subunit, which were largely down‐regulated in the livers of mice with high‐fat diet–induced NAFLD and patients with hepatitis. Conclusion: Targeting RORα may be a potential therapeutic strategy to restore lysosomal acidification, which inhibits the progression of NAFLD., We identified a novel function of RORα that enhanced lysosomal acidification and autophagic flux through the transcriptional activation of Atp6v1g1. Thus, targeting RORα may be a potential therapeutic strategy to restore lysosomal acidification, which inhibits the progression of NAFLD.

Background Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck1) is a key enzyme that catalyzes an irreversible step of hepatic gluconeogenesis; however, the mechanism underlying Pck1 regulation is not fully understood. This study aims to identify a lncRNA that regulates transcription of the Pck1 gene. Methods The precise structures of five different hepatic Ctcflos isotypes were identified through rapid amplification of cDNA ends in the mouse liver. The expression level of hepatic Ctcflos level was determined by PCR and the role of Ctcflos were assessed using antisense oligonucleotides and virus encoding Ctcflos both in vitro and in vivo. The target protein interacted with Ctcflos was identified through RNA pull down assay. Contribution of Ctcflos in glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated Pck1 gene expression was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, in situ proximity ligation assay, and reporter gene analysis. Results A novel lncRNA Ctcflos was identified in the enhancer region of Pck1 gene. Induction of Ctcflos was dependent on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the livers of fasted or dexamethasone-administered mice. Overexpression of Ctcflos by infusion of an adenovirus encoding Ctcflos increased transcript- and protein-level of Pck1, whereas knockdown of Ctcflos using antisense oligonucleotides suppressed. RNA pulldown experiments showed that Ctcflos bound the heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) which interacts with GR. Interestingly, knockdown of hnRNPL upregulated the Pck1 gene. Finally, we found that, in the presence of Ctcflos, the binding between GR and hnRNPL was weakened, whereas the DNA binding of GR was enriched in the Pck1 enhancer region. Conclusions We report the discovery of a novel lncRNA, Ctcflos, that regulates the transcription of Pck1 by modulating GR function. Targeting Ctcflos may provide a new insight into the development of alternative treatments for hyperglycemia by offering specific regulation of hepatic Pck1 gene expression.

Background Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) immunostaining in the enteric nervous system (ENS) has been investigated to determine the role of diagnostic biomarker of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, determining factors for alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) deposition in the ENS of humans are still unclear. We aimed to investigate a possible association between SNCA variants and the presence of α-Syn immunostaining in the ENS in patients with PD and healthy individuals. Methods The study subjects consisted of 38 patients with PD and 46 healthy individuals. α-Syn immunohistochemistry was performed for gastric and colonic mucosal tissues of patients with PD and controls. Mucosal biopsy tissues of the ENS were obtained using standard biopsy forceps by endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy. Two variants within the SNCA gene (the single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] rs11931074 and the microsatellite REP1) were genotyped. Results In patients with PD, the rs11931074 (G allele) was significantly associated with the presence of α-Syn immunostaining in the ENS (OR = 5.96, 95% CI = 1.70–20.97, P = 0.01). In an interaction analysis, SNP rs11931074–PD status interaction was significantly associated with positive α-Syn immunostaining in the ENS (OR = 7.33, 95% CI = 1.58–33.88, P = 0.01). Longer SNCA REP1 alleles were not associated with positive α-Syn immunostaining in the ENS. Conclusion This exploratory study demonstrated that α-Syn deposition in the ENS may be associated with SNCA variants in patients with PD.

This study evaluated the effects of a nonwoven polypropylene (NPP) covering during overwintering with different mulch types and transplant times on bulb onion growth and yield of intermediate-day onions (Allium cepa L.) during the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 growing seasons. Field experiments were conducted using a split-split plot design with three replicates. Treatments included main plots containing different mulch types (transparent plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, or bare ground), subplots with different transplanting times (20 Oct., 5 Nov., and 20 Nov.), and sub-subplots containing two onion cultivars (Sunpower and Katamaru). NPP was used to cover all plots on 1 Dec., and it was removed on 28 Feb. Mean daily air temperatures during transplanting and root establishment were 2.6 °C higher during the 2015/2016 growing season compared with the 2016/2017 season. NPP covering on bare ground increased soil temperature by 2.1 °C compared with no treatment. Soil water potential with transparent and black mulches and NPP continued to be more than −10 kPa until early March. Number of leaves, and root and leaf weight were significantly greater during the 2015/2016 growing season than during the 2016/2017 growing season; there were also significantly greater for onion plants grown with transparent plastic mulch than for those grown with black plastic mulch or no mulch on 4 Apr. and 5 May. Marketable bulb yield was lower during 2015/2016 (32.0 Mg·ha−1) than during 2016/2017 (38.5 Mg·ha−1); this was due to the increased unmarketable bulb yield, with 33.2 Mg·ha−1 bolters and 3.9 Mg·ha−1 doubled bulbs during 2015/2016 compared with 3.9 Mg·ha−1 bolters and 0.3 Mg·ha−1 doubled bulbs during 2016/2017. Marketable bulb yield of ‘Katamaru’ (38.9 Mg·ha−1) was greater than that of ‘Sunpower’ (31.6 Mg·ha−1). Marketable bulb yield increased with later transplanting times, and onions grown with black plastic mulch achieved the highest bulb yield (43.0 Mg·ha−1), followed by transparent mulch (34.7 Mg·ha−1) and no mulch (28.0 Mg·ha−1). When the temperatures from early November to early December were similar to the 30-year average temperatures, marketable bulb yield could increase with the NPP covering, especially for onions grown with black plastic mulch or no mulch when transplanted from late October to early November.

This work presents a strategy to produce gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from ethyl levulinate (EL) by heterogeneous catalytic reaction and vapor-liquid equilibrium separation. This approach has the advantages of achieving a high yield of GVL and of using easily recycled catalyst and solvent. Based on experimental results, this work presents a large-scale process simulation study including process design, energy analysis, and economic analysis to show the economic feasibility for the proposed strategy. This strategy is very sensitive to EL price and highly depended on an off-site supply of heating energy. Results of our study suggest that the strategy is an economically-competitive alternative to current GVL production approaches.

This study combines two catalytic conversion strategies, cellulose to ethyl levulinate and subsequently to gamma-valerolactone, into an integrated process. The effect of integrating the cellulose-to-ethyl levulinate and ethyl levulinate-to-gamma-valerolactone processes on a commercial scale is investigated to improve energy efficiency and economics by performing a process simulation study. The conversion strategies show a low energy efficiency of 6.8% using excess ethanol solvent to achieve high yields of ethyl levulinate and gamma-valerolactone; however, in the integrated process, 0.4% of the ethanol and 30.8% of the cellulose-to-ethyl levulinate heat requirements are supplied by the ethyl levulinate-to-gamma-valerolactone process. The minimum selling price for the integrated process is estimated to be $5.63/kggamma-valerolactone, which makes it an economically feasible option for gamma-valerolactone production. Finally, we conducted a sensitivity analysis of key parameters (cellulose price, steam price, and ethanol price) highly depending on the minimum selling price of gamma-valerolactone.

This study presents two biomass conversion strategies: electrocatalytic glycerol-to-chemicals (eGTC) and catalytic corn stover-to-fuels (cCTF). The effect of process integration combining eGTC with cCTF on a commercial scale is investigated to improve energy efficiency and economics of the strategies. In the integrated process strategy, most of the heat requirements for eGTC are supplied by cCTF, and most of the hydrogen requirements for cCTF are provided by eGTC. Process integration leads to higher energy efficiency (27.6%) of integrated process strategy compared to the eGTC-only process (11.4%). The minimum selling price for the integrated process strategy is estimated to $2.35/kg GLA which can be more economically feasible than the eGTC-only process strategy ($2.55/kg GLA ).

Mesoporous architectures are remarkable electrode materials for energy storage system due to their large number of active sites and high surface area. Here we report, mesoporous MoS2 particles (pore diameter 34.04 nm) well attached to the surface of thin layered reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via an ultrasonic chemical method for supercapacitor applications. The rGO not only increases the conductivity of MoS2 but also provides a substrate for the attachment of MoS2 with low aggregation. The porous MoS2 provides a large surface area and sufficient way for the fast transport of electrolyte ions toward electrode materials. As a result, the synthesized MoS2/rGO composites exhibited excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance 314.5 F/g in 2M KOH aqueous solution at a scan rate of 10 mV/s and excellent specific capacitance retention (80.02%) after 1000 cycles in a three electrode system for energy storage applications.

This paper presents a bio-based process for the catalytic conversion of cellulose to ethyl levulinate and an analysis of its techno-economic feasibility. The said bio-based process relies as major feedstock on cellulose, which can be derived from lignocellulosic biomass. cellulose is converted to ethyl levulinate via a homogeneous catalytic reaction whereby dilute sulfuric acid in combination with Al salts is the catalyst and ethanol is the solvent and reactant. This approach affords high ethyl levulinate yields but requires complex procedures for used catalyst and solvent recycling. Based on experimental results on the homogeneous catalytic reaction and vapor–liquid equilibrium separation in the previous studies, a simulation was conducted that included process design, energy integration, and economic analysis. Results from this simulation indicated the proposed bio-based process to afford a minimum selling price of US$ 2,830 per ton of ethyl levulinate, which was highly dependent on an off-site supply of heating energy required for ethanol purification. 1

The positional distribution pattern of fatty acids (FAs) in the triacylglycerols (TAGs) affects intestinal absorption of these FAs. The aim of this study was to compare lymphatic absorption of pinolenic acid (PLA) present in structured pinolenic TAG (SPT) where PLA was evenly distributed on the glycerol backbone, with absorption of pine nut oil (PNO) where PLA was predominantly positioned at the sn-3 position. SPT was prepared via the nonspecific lipase-catalyzed esterification of glycerol with free FA obtained from PNO. Lymphatic absorption of PLA from PNO and from SPT was compared in a rat model of lymphatic cannulation. Significantly (P < 0.05) greater amounts of PLA were detected in lymph collected for 8 h from an emulsion containing SPT (28.5 ± 0.7% dose) than from an emulsion containing PNO (26.2 ± 0.6% dose), thereby indicating that PLA present in SPT has a greater capacity for lymphatic absorption than PLA from PNO.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by loss of liver function in response to sustained augmentation of the acute-phase response (APR) in the liver, which can progress even to death. Although the inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6)–axis is a crucial factor that drives the hepatic APR by releasing diverse acute-phase proteins (APPs), therapeutic strategies to block the IL-6–STAT3-mediated APR are not well developed. Here, we show that the nuclear receptor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) limits APR-mediated liver injury by inhibiting the hepatic IL-6–STAT3 signaling pathway. Administration of JC1-40, an RORα activator, diminished diethylnitrosamine-induced acute liver injury and repressed transcriptional expression of APPs such as CXCL1 and LCN2 in mice. IL-6-mediated activation of STAT3 was repressed after RORα activation by either adenoviral infusion of RORα or JC1-40 treatment in primary hepatocytes. Activation of RORα decreased transcriptional expression of IL-6 receptor α, an upstream activator of STAT3, both in vitro and in vivo. This may be one mechanism underlying the RORα-mediated inhibition of STAT3. Taken together, our results suggest that RORα is a regulator of the hepatic IL-6–STAT3 signaling pathway and may be a new therapeutic target for treating APR-associated inflammatory ALF.

Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor α (RORα) is considered a key regulator of polarization in liver macrophages that is closely related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis. However, hepatic microenvironments that support the function of RORα as a polarity regulator were largely unknown. Here, we identified maresin 1 (MaR1), a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) metabolite with a function of specialized proresolving mediator, as an endogenous ligand of RORα. MaR1 enhanced the expression and transcriptional activity of RORα and thereby increased the M2 polarity of liver macrophages. Administration of MaR1 protected mice from high-fat diet-induced NASH in a RORα-dependent manner. Surprisingly, RORα increased the level of MaR1 through transcriptional induction of 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX), a key enzyme in MaR1 biosynthesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that modulation of 12-LOX activity enhanced the protective function of DHA against NASH. Together, these results suggest that the MaR1/RORα/12-LOX autoregulatory circuit could offer potential therapeutic strategies for curing NASH.

1,2-Pentanediol (1,2-PeD), which can be used as a monomer of polyester, has been produced from fossil resource by environmentally-unfriendly process using toxic solvents (propionic acid and benzene). We present the environmentally-friendly process for the production of 1,2-PeD from bio-renewable FF (furfural) using water solvent and shows its economic feasibility. This study consists of experimental investigation and simulation study. First, we determine a suitable process route to maximize the yield of 1,2-PeD through the experimental investigation. FF is converted to 1,2-PeD through two sequential catalytic conversion steps using Cu-MgO and Ru-MnOx catalysts. Next, the simulation study including process design, heat integration, and economic analysis is performed to present the economic feasibility for the developed process. The minimum selling price of 1,2-PeD is $ 3,118 per tonnes, and it is close to the current market price. We minimized the separation costs for the integrated process by designing efficient separation subsystems and heat exchanger network. Despite of using an expensive raw material, the environmentally-friendly process can be cost-competitive with conventional process.

Large-scale processes for catalytic production of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from two different feedstocks (levulinic acid; LA and ethyl levulinate; EL) are presented based on experimental results. In LA-based process, cellulose and hemicellulose of corn stover are converted to LA using dilute sulfuric acid catalyst and subsequently converted to GVL over RuSn4/C catalyst in the present of GVL solvent. Instead of LA, EL converted to GVL on Pt-ZSM 35 catalyst using ethanol solvent obtained as a by-product in ELbased process. The simulation study including process design, heat integration, and economic analysis is performed to show the economic feasibility for the EL-based process compared with LA-based process. The minimum selling price of EL-based GVL ($ 1.64/kg) is higher than LA-based GVL ($ 1.16/kg). The sensitivity analysis shows that if EL-based process uses lower feedstock cost and energy requirements, it will be comparable with the LA-based process.

This study aimed to compare agricultural practices, soil physical and chemical properties, growth characteristics, and nutrient uptake of bulb onions from organic and conventional farms in southeastern Korea during the 2011–12 growing season. Soil and plant samples were collected from eight certified organic fields managed organically for more than 5 years and eight conventional fields adjacent to the organic fields. The amounts of nutrients applied to onion fields were approximately two times greater with the conventional methods than with organic methods. However, the soil physical and chemical properties were not significantly different between the organic and conventional systems, except for NO3-N in early May. Growth characteristics were significantly different in early April with organic bulb yield of 55.9 t·ha−1, which was 21.8% lower than conventionally produced onions. Yield reduction in organic onions was the result of lower large-sized (8 cm or greater) bulb yield compared with conventional production. In the conventional system, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content of leaf tissue in early April, and nitrogen (N) and P content of bulb tissue in early May were higher than those in the organic system. Uptake of all nutrients was greater in the conventional onions compared with the organic onions, except for leaf tissue at harvest. In conclusion, organic onions began to grow and absorb soil nutrients later than the conventional onions in the initial vegetative growth stage. Moreover, it led to an organic onion producing a lower bulb yield. To accelerate the initial growth of the organic onion plant, agricultural practices need to be modified. Modifications that may help include using larger sized seedlings at transplanting, covering the plants with nonwoven fabric or transparent plastic film to increase warmth during winter, and harvesting the onions 1 week later than the conventional onions.

This study investigated whether or not Citrus unshiu peel extract (CPE) affects fat accumulation in livers of rats fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet. Initially, male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually in stainless steel, wire-bottomed cages with free access to a Lieber-Decarli control liquid diet. Rats were divided by body weight into three groups of eight each: one group of rats was fed the Lieber-Decarli control liquid diet devoid of ethanol (control), another was fed the Lieber-Decarli ethanol diet (ethanol), and third was fed the same ethanol diet except containing CPE. All three groups were fed their respective diets for 6 weeks. Serum and liver lipids were analyzed and liver histology performed. Body weight did not differ among the groups over the 6-wk duration. Histology images showed that CPE administration significantly improved fat accumulation in livers, which was induced by ethanol diet. Serum levels of transaminases and lipids also were reduced by CPE consumption. Taken together, the results indicate that CPE may protect ethanol-induced fatty liver by lowering fat accumulation in both the liver and blood. The protective effects of CPE appear to be due to its phenolic contents.

Evidence suggests that dietary indole, particularly rich in cruciferous vegetables, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Endosulfan is a residual organochlorine pesticide, which is detected in fruits, vegetables, and crops. In this study, we investigated the effect of luminal indole on endosulfan transport in the small intestine in mesenteric lymph duct-cannulated rats. The duodenum was also cannulated and a fasting phosphate buffered saline-glucose solution was infused overnight at 3 mL/hr. After recovery, a lipid emulsion containing [2,3-14C] endosulfan (14C-endosulfan) was infused into the duodenum for 8 hours. The tested rats were infused with the same lipid emulsion, but with indole. Samples from the lymph-fistula were collected hourly, and the luminal contents and mucosa were collected at the end of the infusion. The lymph flow in the mesenteric lymph did not differ between the two groups. However, the intestinal absorption of both endosulfan and cholesterol were significantly decreased by indole. The amount of radioactive endosulfan, which remained in the mucosa, was greater in the indole-infused rats due to the decreased transport of endosulfan into the lymph. This study indicates that the indole decreases the intestinal transport of endosulfan into the mesenteric lymph.

This article presents the full study (lab-scale experimental study and large-scale techno-economic analysis) results of a two-step catalytic process for the conversion of organic waste–derived butyric acid to butanol. The two-step process consists of the (1) esterification of butyric acid to methyl butyrate and (2) hydrogenolysis of this methyl butyrate to butanol. The first reaction, esterification of butyric acid, was optimized using carbon-based catalysts. The production of butanol from methyl butyrate via hydrogenolysis was investigated using bimetallic Pt–Co catalysts. The hydrogenolysis of methyl butyrate on these catalysts under optimal conditions of 250 °C, 5 MPa H2, and a feed/catalyst weight ratio of 11.2 led to 54.1% selectivity toward 1-butanol. Based on the experimental results, an integrated process simulation model was developed to determine the economic potential of the two-step production of butanol from butyric acid. Using this model, the techno-economic feasibility of the two-step process was analyzed. The minimum selling price (MSP) of 1-butanol produced from butyric acid using this process was US$ 3.388 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE). This MSP is in the range of recent biofuel market prices of US$ 2.03/GGE to US$ 3.83/GGE.

This study aimed to compare lymphatic absorption of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) in the triacylglycerol (TAG) or free fatty acid (FFA) form and to examine the antiobesity effects of different doses of CLAs in the TAG form in animals. Conjugated linoleic TAGs (containing 70.3 wt% CLAs; CLA-TAG) were prepared through lipase-catalyzed esterification of glycerol with commercial CLA mixtures (CLA-FFA). Lymphatic absorption of CLA-TAG and CLA-FFA was compared in a rat model of lymphatic cannulation. Greater amounts of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLAs were detected in the collected lymph from a lipid emulsion containing CLA-TAG. This result suggests that CLA-TAG has greater capacity for lymphatic absorption than does CLA-FFA. The antiobesity efficacy of CLA-TAG at different doses was examined in mice with diet-induced obesity. A high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks caused a significant increase in body weight and epididymal and retroperitoneal fat weights, which were significantly decreased by 2% dietary supplementation (w/w) with CLA-TAG. CLA-TAG at 2% significantly attenuated the HFD-induced upregulation of serum TAG, but led to hepatomegaly and exacerbated HFD-induced hypercholesterolemia. CLA-TAG at 1% significantly attenuated upregulation of retroperitoneal fat weight and significantly increased liver weight, which was decreased by the HFD. Nonetheless, the liver weight in group "HFD +1% CLA-TAG" was not significantly different from that of normal diet controls. CLA-TAG at 1% significantly reduced serum TAG levels and did not exacerbate HFD-induced hypercholesterolemia. Thus, 1% dietary supplementation with CLA-TAG reduces retroperitoneal fat weight without apparent hepatomegaly, a known side-effect of CLAs in mouse models of obesity.

Recently, we have demonstrated that green tea extract (GTE) decreases the intestinal absorption of benzo[a]pyrene (BAP), which is an extremely lipophilic food contaminant. The present study was conducted to examine if an enteral infusion of GTE would influence the biliary secretion of BAP and lipids in rats. Female rats were fed an AIN-93G diet with or without (control) GTE at 5 g/㎏ diet for 4 week. Following the 4-week dietary treatment, rats with bile duct cannula were infused continuously for 8 hr at 3.0 ㎖/hr via a duodenal catheter with a lipid emulsion containing 4.0 μ㏖ BAP labeled with ¹⁴C (¹⁴C-BAP), 20.7 μmol cholesterol, 452 μ㏖ triolein, and 3.1 μ㏖ α-tocopherol, and 396.0 μ㏖ Na-taurocholate with or without 76.1 ㎎ GTE powder in PBS buffer (pH, 6.4). Bile was collected hourly via bile cannula for an 8 hr period. Our results showed that bile flow did not differ between groups. However, the biliary secretion of ¹⁴C-BAP was significantly enhanced by GTE infusion, compared with those infused with the lipid emulsion alone. However, GTE did not affect the biliary outputs of cholesterol, fat, phospholipid and α-tocopherol. These findings indicate that GTE has a profound stimulatory effect on the biliary excretion of BAP in rats, without affecting other biliary lipids. The mechanism(s) by which GTE enhances the biliary secretion of BAP remains to be investigated.

Recently, we showed that green tea extract (GTE) markedly lowers the intestinal absorption of ¹⁴C-benzo[a]pyrene (¹⁴C-BaP) and enhances its secretion into the biliary route, suggesting a protective role for GTE against body burden. These findings indicate that green tea could be used as an effective dietary means against the toxicity of BaP. The present study, therefore, was designed to investigate if green tea intake could affect the tissue distribution and deposition of ¹⁴C-BaP in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G diet and deionized water. At ∼340 g of weight, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with 27.4 kBq of [4-¹⁴C]-BaP and 5.0 ㎎ of BaP dissolved in 300 ㎕ of olive oil and then assigned randomly to the following two groups: one group (GTE) of rats was fed the AIN-93G diet with GTE via drinking water at approx. 4.7 ㎎ of catechins/d, whereas the other was fed the same diet but without GTE (control). At 4 wk of dietary treatment with GTE, animals were euthanized and heart, liver, brain, spleen, kidney, retroperitoneal fat, testis, and epididymal fat were collected, weighed, and analyzed for tissue ¹⁴C-BaP. Both the control and GTE groups continuously gained weight throughout the study, but there was no significant difference between the groups. No significant differences were observed in the weights of heart, liver, brain, spleen, kidney, retroperitoneal fat, testis, and epididymal fat. However, the radioactivities of ¹⁴C-BaP, expressed in dpm/g, were significantly lower in the heart, liver, brain, spleen, and epididymal fat of rats receiving GTE as compared to their respective controls. These data indicate that green tea intake markedly lowers tissue accumulation of ¹⁴C-BaP. Taken together, these findings suggest that the decreased tissue levels of BaP by GTE intake may be associated with lowered intestinal absorption of BaP and its enhanced secretion into the bile.

Wide band-gap BeZnO layers were grown on Al 2 O 3 (0 0 0 1) substrate using radio-frequency magnetron co-sputtering. The rate of Be x Zn 1− x O crystallized as a hexagonal structure was x =0.2. From the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement, the O–Zn bonds relating the crystal structure and the Be–O bonds related to the deviation of the stoichiometry in the BeZnO layer were caught at 530.4 and 531.7 eV in the O 1s spectrum, respectively. Thus, the observance on the Be 1s peak of 113.2 eV associated with the bonding Be–O indicates that the sputtered Be atoms are substituted for the host-lattice site in ZnO. This Be–O bonding shows a relatively low intense and broadening spectrum caused by large fluctuation of Be content in the BeZnO layer. From the photoluminescence and transmittance measurement, the free exciton and the neutral donor-bound exciton (D 0 , X) emissions were observed at 3.7692 and 3.7313 eV, respectively, and an average transmittance rate over 95% was achieved in a wide ultraviolet (UV)–visible region. Also, the binding energy for the (D 0 , X) emission was extracted to be 37.9 meV. Through the wide band-gap material BeZnO, we may open some possibilities for fabricating a ZnO-based UV light-emitting diode to be utilized as a barrier layer comprised of the ZnO/BeZnO quantum well structure and/or an UV light emitting material itself.

Zn powder has been used for many years as anticorrosive pigments in various paints. In this work, the nano-sized Zn powder was synthesized by wire explosion method in deionised water and ethanol. The morphology of the prepared powders was observed by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the oxidation of the powders was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The size of particles was estimated from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and FE-SEM. Dispersion properties of the as-prepared Zn nanoparticles in ethanol were evaluated by Turbiscan lab device. It is found that Zn nanoparticle prepared in ethanol had spherical shape with average particles size ~150 nm while the one prepared in water had a mixture of hexagonal and spherical shape. Ethanol can reduce the oxidation of Zn nanoparticles in comparison with water. Stability of Zn nanoparticles dispersed in ethanol exhibited the agglomeration in the dispersion.

This paper presents a novel single-step method for preparation copper nanofluids by electrical explosion of wire in liquid. Three types of fluids were used as a medium of the wire explosion process: deionised water, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) solution 0.001 M and ethylene glycol. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to investigate the properties of the nanofluids. Pure copper phase was detected in the nanofluids using ethylene glycol and mixture of copper and oxide phase was observed in the nanofluids using water and CTAB solution. FE-SEM analysis showed that size of particles formed in ethylene glycol was about 90 nm, the smallest in three samples.

Core–shell powders, recently, have aroused interest because of their potential applications in various areas such as electronics, optics, catalysis, ferrofluids, and magnetic data storage. Their unique properties and superior performances are determined by their powder size, shell thickness and surface structure, phase and powder interaction. In this study, carbon-coated Fe core–shell powders were prepared by chemical vapor condensation (CVC) process using Fe metal–organic (Fe(CO) 5 ) precursor and carbon containing carrier gases such as carbon monoxide and methane. Effects of experimental parameters on the properties of the as-produced core–shell powders were studied by X-ray diffractometer, Brunauer–Emitter–Teller analyzer, high resolution transmission electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The microstructures and phases of the synthesized core–shell powders varied with the decomposition temperature of the precursors and the flow rate of the carrier gases. CVC Fe powders showed intricate long stand-like structure because of intrinsic magnetic properties of Fe.

The electrical and the optical properties of deep blue organic light-emitting devices (OLED) utilizing a step emitting layer (SEL) consisting of 4,4′-Bis(2,2′-diphenyl-ethen-1-yl)biphenyl (DPVBi) and 4,4′-Bis(carbazol-9-yl)biphenyl (CBP) were investigated. The turn-on voltage of the OLEDs with a SEL was smaller than those of the OLEDs with a CBP or a DPVBi emitting layer. While the efficiency of the OLEDs with a SEL was very stable, regardless of variations in the applied voltage, that of the OLEDs with a CBP or a DPVBi emitting layer varied with the applied voltage. The dominant peak in the electroluminescence spectrum for the OLEDs with a SEL appeared at 455 nm. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity (CIE) coordinates of the OLEDs with a SEL at 11 V were (0.160, 0.168), which is similar to the CIE coordinates of the CBP layer.

Self-organization of a two-dimensional array of nanopores, which was formed by anodic oxidation of aluminum, was investigated quantitatively using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and their fast Fourier transformation analysis. The highly ordered array of nanopores with diameters of ~60 nm was obtained by two-step anodization at an anodizing voltage of 40 V for an anodizing time of 36 h in a 0.3 M oxalic acid. A two-dimensional ordered array of ferroelectric PbTiO3 nanotubes was successfully fabricated by a spin coating of sol-gel solution into porous anodic alumina template. SEM and transmission electron microscopy images show that the nanotubes have a relatively constant wall thickness of ~15 nm with an outer diameter of ~60 nm. The present method has a high efficiency to fabricate an ordered nanotube array of a variety of functional metal oxide materials in a large area.

An Mg-doped p-GaN layer was grown by the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition method. The dissociation extent of hydrogen-passivated Mg acceptors in the p-GaN layer through Mg activation annealing was estimated by using room-temperature cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy. The CL measurement revealed that the CL spectra intensities tend to increase with increasing the activation annealing temperature. The sample annealed at 925 °C showed the most intense emission and the narrowest width among the emission peaks. Consequently, it was the most excellent dissociation extent of Mg–H complexes caused by the Mg activation annealing. The hole concentration under this optimum condition was 1.3×10 17 cm −3 at room temperature. The photoluminescence (PL) measurement showed a 2.8 eV band having characteristically a broad peak in heavily Mg-doped GaN at room temperature. By analyzing the PL results, we learned that this band was associated with the deep donor–acceptor pair (DAP) emission rather than with the emission caused by the transition from the conduction band to deep acceptor level. The four emission peaks in the resolved 2.8 eV band were emitted by transiting from deep donor levels of 0.14, 0.26, 0.40, and 0.62 eV below the conduction band to the shallow Mg acceptor level of 0.22 eV above the valence band.

Optical properties of ZnO bulk grown by hydrothermal method were investigated on the Zn-terminated surface by using Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL). The typical Raman peak of E 2 high mode was observed at 436.20 cm −1 . Also, the peak 576.20 cm −1 was found to correspond to the LO phonon of A 1 mode. This peak was caused by the defects of O-vacancy, Zn-interstitial, or these complexes. The PL peak positions of B- and A-excitons are shifted to the shorter-wavelength side with decreasing temperature. The obtained PL intensity of excitons was exponentially reduced and the linewidth of the B-exciton broadened with increasing temperature. This is thought to be the vibration mode of LO phonon, which may be participated in quenching process. Also, the empirical band gap was found to be E g ( T )= E g (0)− αT 2 /( β + T ), where α and β were turned out to be 5.70×10 −4 eV/K and 420 K, respectively.

Despite the importance of airway surface liquid pH in the lung's defenses against infection, the mechanism of airway HCO3− secretion remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the contribution of apical and basolateral Cl−/HCO3− exchangers to Cl− and HCO3− transport in the Calu-3 cell line, derived from human airway submucosal glands. Changes in intracellular pH (pHi) were measured following substitution of Cl− with gluconate. Apical Cl− substitution led to an alkalinization in forskolin-stimulated cells, indicative of Cl−/HCO3− exchange. This was unaffected by the anion exchange inhibitor DIDS but inhibited by the CFTR blocker CFTRinh-172, suggesting that the HCO3− influx might occur via CFTR, rather than a solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) exchanger, as recently proposed. The anion selectivity of the recovery process more closely resembled that of CFTR than an SLC26 exchanger, and quantitative RT-PCR showed only low levels of SLC26 exchanger transcripts relative to CFTR and anion exchanger 2 (AE2). For pHi to rise to observed values (∼7.8) through HCO3− entry via CFTR, the apical membrane potential must reverse to at least +20 mV following Cl− substitution; this was confirmed by perforated-patch recordings. Substitution of basolateral Cl− evoked a DIDS-sensitive alkalinization, attributed to Cl−/HCO3− exchange via AE2. This appeared to be abolished in forskolin-stimulated cells but was unmasked by blocking apical efflux of HCO3− via CFTR. We conclude that Calu-3 cells secrete HCO3− predominantly via CFTR, and, contrary to previous reports, the basolateral anion exchanger AE2 remains active during stimulation, providing an important pathway for basolateral Cl− uptake.

The mother-infant relationship is an instinctive phenomenon, and loss of maternal care in early life influences neonatal development, behavior and physiologic responses.(1,2) Furthermore, the early loss may affect the vulnerability of the infant to neuropsychiatric disorders, such as childhood anxiety disorders, personality disorders and depression, over its lifespan.(3,4) Fluoxetine is prescribed worldwide for depression and is often used in the treatment of childhood mental problems related to maternal separation or loss of maternal care.(5,6) In the present study, fluoxetine was administrated to rats with maternal separation to determine its effects on neuronal development, in particular with respect to cell proliferation and apoptosis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Rat pups were separated from their mothers and socially isolated on postnatal day 14 and were treated with fluoxetine (5 mg kg(-1)) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) (50 mg kg(-1)) for 7 days, after which immunohistochemistry and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining were carried out. In the pups with maternal separation treated with fluoxetine, the number of BrdU-positive cells was significantly increased and that of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly decreased in the dentate gyrus compared to pups with maternal separation that did not receive fluoxetine treatment. These findings indicate that fluoxetine affects new cell proliferation and apoptosis, and we propose that fluoxetine may be useful in the treatment of maternal separation-related diseases.

Background and purpose The progression pattern of brain structural changes in patients with isolated cerebrovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. To investigate the role of isolated CVD in cognitive impairment patients, patterns of cortical thinning and hippocampal atrophy in pure subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) and pure subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) patients were characterized. Methods Forty-five patients with svMCI and 46 patients with SVaD who were negative on Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography imaging and 75 individuals with normal cognition (NC) were recruited. Results Compared with NC, patients with PiB(-) svMCI exhibited frontal, language and retrieval type memory dysfunctions, which in patients with PiB(-) SVaD were further impaired and accompanied by visuospatial and recognition memory dysfunctions. Compared with NC, patients with PiB(-) svMCI exhibited cortical thinning in the frontal, perisylvian, basal temporal and posterior cingulate regions. This atrophy was more prominent and extended further toward the lateral parietal and medial temporal regions in patients with PiB(-) SVaD. Compared with NC subjects, patients with PiB(-) svMCI exhibited hippocampal shape deformities in the lateral body, whilst patients with PiB(-) SVaD exhibited additional deformities within the lateral head and inferior body. Conclusions Our findings suggest that patients with CVD in the absence of Alzheimer's disease pathology can be demented, showing cognitive impairment in multiple domains, which is consistent with the topography of cortical thinning and hippocampal shape deformity.

Previously, we have shown that green tea extract (GTE) lowers the intestinal absorption of lipids and lipophilic compounds in rats. This study was conducted to investigate whether GTE inhibits the intestinal absorption and biliary secretion of benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP), an extremely lipophilic potent carcinogen, present in foods as a contaminant. Male rats with lymph or bile duct cannula were infused at 3.0 ml/h for 8 h via a duodenal catheter with lipid emulsion containing 14 C-BaP with or without GTE in PBS buffer. Lymph and bile were collected hourly for 8 h. The 14 C-radioactivities in lymph, bile and intestine were determined and expressed as % dose infused. Results showed that GTE drastically lowered the lymphatic absorption of 14 C-BaP (7.6±3.2% in GTE-infused vs. 14.4±2.7% dose/8 h in control rats), with a significantly higher amount of 14 C-radioactivity present in the small intestinal lumen and cecum in rats infused with GTE. GTE also markedly increased the hourly rate (3.9±0.1% dose/h in GTE-infused vs. 3.0±0.1% dose/h in control rats) and the total biliary secretion of 14 C-BaP (31.5±0.8% dose/8 h in GTE-infused vs. 24.3±0.4% dose/8 h in control rats). The findings provide first direct evidence that GTE has a profound inhibitory effect on the intestinal absorption of BaP and promotes the excretion of absorbed BaP via the biliary route. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether green tea could be recommended as a dietary means of ameliorating the toxicity and carcinogenic effect of BaP.